Does my bunny have root problems? Pls check this dental x ray for me!!!

[Lewis n Pumpkin]

My rabbit started drooling on the left side of her face some time in January. I took her to the vet and she got some antibiotic shots and that stopped it. About 2 weeks later she started drooling on the right side, so we did the same thing and that stopped. Then 2 weeks later she started drooling again on the left side. Her gum is currently purple/red and her teeth are stained, which I’m assuming symptoms of gum disease. I asked our vet for a dental x ray and this is what we got back. She was prescribed medications but no shots this time, and that seems to help — she only drooled a tiny bit today and that’s the first day of the meds.

The vet said that it’s probably because of bacteria growing inside her mouth. My bunny has fur growing inside her cheeks, so the vet recommended that I clean the inside of her cheeks and gum twice a day. She said that my bunny’s teeth is growing normally, and that the x-ray looks fine. I’m still a little scared because her roots look a little long to me (from other x-rays i saw while panic googling…), and the teeth don’t seem to align well here? or am I seeing things? I want her to be ok so badly. But I have to be sure.

If anyone has had a rabbit who took dental x-rays before, can you tell me if this is ok? Are there problems you’re seeing? My vet doesn’t specialize in exotic pets, and there are none whatsoever in my area. Help!

[Bam]

I’m sorry your bun is having problems. I’m afraid none of us here are qualified to interpret rabbit x-rays. I did find a picture of normal rabbit teeth:

The pic is from this website, which seems to have good info on rabbit dentistry:

 

https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/dentistry/rabbit-dentistry/

If your bun has hair growing inside her cheeks, it seems reasonable that food particles could stick to the hairs and become a breeding ground for bacteria.

[Wick & Fable]

If you identify what area you are from, members may be able to assist in finding a rabbit-experienced vet. As Bam mentions, we in no way can make diagnostic assessments from an x-ray, as we are not veterinarians and also no veterinarian would attempt to diagnose conclusively w/o seeing the rabbit itself for an exam.  To that point, even if someone ‘confirmed’ it, it sounds like the priority would still be finding a more experienced rabbit-vet so you are able to discuss next steps.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[LBJ10]

The angle of the x-ray is weird. Makes you wonder how well the vet was able to interpret the image. Either way, tooth root problems don’t always show up on x-rays… so it’s hard to say. As the others have said, we’re not vets so we can’t diagnose your rabbit.

I can tell you my experience with tooth root issues. My bunny had problems with the upper roots growing into his sinuses. He never drooled or had any foul smell coming from his mouth. He always had a stuffy nose and/or weepy eye. It was mostly a stuffy nose though. Sneezing was common for him. I always had to monitor him because sometimes bacteria would accumulate in his sinuses and he would end up with a URI that had to be treated with antibiotics. One infection was bad enough that he ended up with permanent nerve damage (facial paralysis) because the bacteria migrated from his sinus to his ear. There is no good treatment for overgrown tooth roots. You just have to treat the ongoing symptoms.

What you are describing sounds more like a congenital problem. Fur growing inside the cheeks? Do you mean the lips are turned inward too far? Could that be corrected?

[Author]

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